“Dare to program something internet-breaking. Dare to blow their minds. Dare to be homeroom famous, a high school fable.”
She Can STEM from The Ad Council and Deloitte Digital’s Heat aims to dismantle the intimidating exterior of STEM fields by showing girls how fun, messy and accessible STEM can be, encouraging them to dive in, no matter where they are in their STEM journey.
Did you know that women make up half of the total college-educated workforce in the U.S., but they only constitute 25 percent of the STEM workforce?
Many girls lose interest in STEM as early as middle school, and this path continues through high school and college, ultimately leading to an underrepresentation of women in STEM careers. “STEM has a reputation for being intimidating and reserved for those who ‘have a knack for it,’ but the reality is that STEM is for everyone,” says Michelle Hillman, Chief Campaign Development Officer at the Ad Council.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Are National Priorities
According to The U.S. Dept. of Education, STEM education is mission-critical.
If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers have the ability to understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and fluency in STEM fields is essential. We must also make sure that no matter where children live, they have access to quality learning environments. A child’s zip code should not determine their STEM fluency.
Flowery language of that sort doesn’t do much for anyone. But it is the correct message.
“In time for the start of a new school year, She Can STEM is encouraging girls to discover the exciting and diverse world of opportunities available through STEM to inspire them for their futures,” says Dima Rigby, Creative Director at Heat. Also, the correct message and The Ad Council is more believable than the federal government.
Do you know a brilliant girl who will benefit from your kind encouragement? She could grow up to become a rocket scientist (or brain surgeon) with the help of active nurturing.
